BELIZE RETREAT 2009

March 19-26, 2009
with Lauren Toolin and Jenny Otto

April 18-25, 2009
with Lauren Toolin and Johnna Smith

Canoe like the ancients on the magical Mopan River. Hike the rainforest to a howler monkey preserve. Explore the Mayan ruins of El Pilar, Xunantunich or Cahal Pech. Delight in the amazing flora and fauna of this incredible country, and in the friendly, colorful culture in San Ignacio town.

In addition to morning and evening yoga classes and daytime excursions, we’ll be treated to the best of Belizean food all week, and music at our Fiesta Night. During your stay, you can hike, bike, ride horseback, and even venture out for a day of snorkeling the largest barrier reef in this hemisphere. Our yoga studies will include the science of the energy body, how we can develop the presence to achieve our deepest desires, and practices to explore and purify the body, mind, heart and emotions—that plus plenty of rocking asana! In addition to fabulous, uplifting yoga with extraordinary teachers every day, enjoy relaxation time in a hammock overlooking the Mopan River, shop in San Ignacio, or walk around the little village of Bullet Tree Falls.

Some comments from past participants:

"Magical...the best week of my life..."

"I fell in love with this place..."

"I loved the yoga deck..."

"The staff was amazing, the location ridiculously fabulous..."

"It gave me a new appreciation for yoga..."

"I was so spoiled..."

Fall in love with Belize... as you fall in love with Yoga. Our Belizean "home," Cohune Palms, is a small, secluded resort that is just right for restoring a depleted soul in an atmosphere of rustic elegance. It is blessed with cool river breezes and a jungle setting as well as proximity to San Ignacio—its shops, restaurants, and nightlife. We’ll be practicing our yoga on the deck, which is built into the river bank of the Mopan. Our hosts, Mike and Bevin, will see that most every need is met, and we can be assured of a gleefully restful experience. Our location will allow immersion into the true peace and deep seated history of Belize. In stepping back from the ordinary, we will pursue a deeper relationship to our yoga practice as a guidepost for living a life of purpose, clarity and compassion.

Your Retreat Leaders:
Lauren Toolin, e-RYT, Founding Director of the Metta Center for Yoga, will be joyfully making her seventh trip to Belize with this adventure. A senior student of both Rodney Yee and Rod Stryker, her teaching style is an engaging synthesis of the clarity and precision of Iyengar Yoga, and the joyful inquiry of Tantra, embodied in her study of Pure Yoga with Rod.

Jenny Otto owns and directs Golden Heart Yoga in Maryland, and is a senior Anusara and Para yoga teacher. She also studies with Tom Myers and is a master in the therapeutics of Yoga.

Johnna Smith, 500 E-RYT, is Yoga Director of Yoga One in Charlotte, NC. A student of yoga since 1995, she has studied with Rod Stryker and Barron Baptiste and studied Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. Johnna is known for being motivational and spiritual in tone while leading you to the edge of your experience on the mat.

Our Package:
Your Belizean Yoga Adventure includes airport transfers, lodging, most meals, yoga classes, a tantalizing half-day excursion and exciting inner tube floats down the river (class two rapids, wildlife, and kicking back). Additional costs: airfare, day trips (there are so many to choose from...) and individual transportation. All cabanas are shared occupancy, with private baths. Private rooms may be available for an additional cost. NOTE: These retreats sell out in a matter of a few weeks. Each week-long retreat is limited to 12 participants, so reserve early to assure your spot! Waiting until the last minute will probably be disappointing...

Rate: New Price! $1,500
Early registration by January 15, $1,300
A $350 non-refundable deposit reserves your place. Deposits and payment can be made via check or PayPal. Use Lauren Toolin as business name and ltoolin@gmail.com for email address to access the PayPal account and make payment.

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